Eleanor was surprised. She didn’t know such a thing happened between Sebastian and Mallory. She gave Sebastian a look, but he remained indifferent. “Did I? Well, guess I was too free back then,” he said.
His words were like a dagger to Mallory’s heart. Her face instantly went pale, and she staggered back slightly before collapsing onto the floor. Security immediately dragged her out.
Steven and Helena knew their daughter was in the wrong. With all the guests watching, making a scene would only embarrass them further. They had no choice but to chase after her silently.
Sebastian turned his disinterested gaze toward Sharen, who stood in her pink dress. “And you, I don’t even remember your name. Don’t flatter yourself. I have no time to remember irrelevant people.”
Eleanor rather liked this cold and ruthless side of Sebastian. He was her husband, anyway. Why should he be a gentleman to other women?
Smiling, she turned and snapped her fingers. In an instant, staff stepped forward to clean up the shattered champagne glasses and rolled out a new multi-tiered cake. Of course, this wasn’t Mallory’s birthday cake. It was one Eleanor had specially ordered from the best patisserie in the city. It looked absolutely delicious, exquisitely designed, and rich with layers of cream.
“The host of the party may have changed, but everything else stays the same,” Eleanor said smoothly. “Enjoy yourselves, everyone. And if any of you ever want to host a party here, just let me know. It’s free of charge.”
The guests erupted with cheers. “Thank you, Ms. Sandberg!”
With this, Eleanor earned even more prestige. Sebastian watched as she was surrounded by guests, effortlessly conversing and laughing. His gaze darkened.
The night wasn’t over yet. In the Trenton residence, Mallory locked herself in her room, her mind replaying Sebastian’s words over and over. “He said he was too free back then. Does that mean he regretted saving me?” she thought. That single sentence from him was more devastating than a thousand insults from Eleanor.
Mallory buried her face in her pillow, sobbing. Suddenly, her bedroom door was flung open. Thinking it was her mother, Mallory said, “Mom, I already told you I don’t want to eat.” But when she lifted the covers and looked up, it wasn’t Helena standing there. Instead, it was Eleanor.
Eleanor smiled sweetly. “Hi, Ms. Trenton.”
Mallory jolted upright in fear. “Eleanor! How did you get in here?”
Eleanor strolled in and turned on the light. Then, she pulled out a chair, sitting down at Mallory’s bedside casually as if she were in her own home.
“I told your parents I have something to ask you. If you answer honestly, I won’t press charges. Otherwise, your family will be the first in the upper crust to stand trial. I doubt your parents can afford that kind of disgrace, so they let me in.”
Mallory clenched her teeth: “What more do you want? Haven’t you ruined my birthday enough?”
“What goes around comes around,” Eleanor replied. “You started the cyberbullying against me. You have no one to blame but yourself for everything that happened tonight.”